Category:

Municipally Designated Tangible Cultural Property (Archaeological artifact)

Title:

Katayanagi itaishitoba

The Stele of Katayanagi

片柳板石塔婆

No. of features:

One flat stone stele

Designated:

March 7, 1970

Location:

2-chome Katayanagi, Minuma Ward

Owner:

Under private ownership

Description:

Itaishitoba steles are flat, stone, pillar-shaped stupas used in Buddhist memorials. They are often inscribed with seed syllables (in Sanskrit, “bīja,”) Sanskrit characters representing the names of buddhas and bodhisattvas.

This itaishitoba stele is inscribed with the date “August 23, 1562”. It was used for the religious custom of “moon-waiting” (“tsukimachi”), where believers would meet on set days in the lunar calendar to wait for the moon to rise, eat, and pray.

It is made of chlorite schist and is inscribed with 8 people’s names. An image of the Amida Buddha (Amitabha) stands under a heavenly canopy. The Buddha is on a lotus pedestal with a flower vase, censer, and candle stand.

This piece is 120.7 cm tall, 31.6 cm wide, and 2.2 cm thick. 

Associated Texts:

(1979). “Survey Report on Omiya City’s Cultural Properties” (vol. 13). Omiya Municipal Board of Education.

(1981). “Survey Report on Omiya City’s Cultural Properties” (vol. 15). Omiya Municipal Board of Education.

(1986). “Cultural Properties in Omiya” (vol. 2). Omiya Board of Education.

This cultural property is not currently on public display. Please seek permission from its owners/curators before viewing. Please be courteous towards other visitors and the site’s owners/curators when visiting this cultural property.

Inquiries (Japanese only)

Cultural Heritage Preservation Division, Department of Lifelong Learning, Board of Education Secretariat　

TEL：048-829-1723 FAX：048-829-1989

https://www.city.saitama.jp/004/005/006/001/017/013/003/p000384.html